Coin-actuated mechanism



June 3, 1930. B. l.. FRY 1,761,784

COIN ACTUATED MECHANISM l El @Horno/13o June 3, 1930. B. L. FRY 1,761,784

COIN ACTUATED MECHANIS M Filed March 13, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Stimme/13o June 3, 1930. B. l.. FRY 1,761,784

COIN ACTUATED MECHANISM Patented June 3, 193D PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN L. FRY, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI com-'Aerosmith MEcnANIsM Application mea Maren 13, 192s. serial 116,346,608.

The present invention provides a mechanism adapted for universal application to vending machines dependent upon the deposition of a coin of predetermined value into a slot with which a passage connects to direct the coin to releasing mea-ns whereby vendition may be consummated by manual y operating a 'deliverer.

The invention provides a detent mechanism for preventing a return of the deliverer, after an initial movement thereof in either direction, until said movement shall have been completed.

The invention,- urthermore, relates to a coin operated latch and a plurality of stops for preventing outward movement of the deliverer when started on its return after making delivery of the article to be dispensed, thereby compelling its complete return and the depositing of another coin before the deliverer lcan again be moved outward.

The invention, moreover, provides a unit embodying a single deliverer and two coincontrolled mechanisms adapted for independent or conjoint use accordingly as one or two coins of diii'erent denominate value are required to effect delivery of the article to be vended.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Fora full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a coin-controlled mechanism illustrative of the' invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a different position of the parts,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 1 4 of Fig. 2, Y

within the scope of the invention as claimed Fig. 5 is a detail. perspective of the deliverer, Y Fig. 6 is a detail section showing more clearly the reversible ratchet mechanism associated with the article deliverer, and Fig. 7 is a detail section of the lower end of the coin tube.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The unit'` embodies a single article deliverer and two similar or like coin-controlled mechanisms adapted for independent or conjoint operation. The coin-controlled mechanisms are spaced apart and the article deliverer moves past them. Inasmuch as the coin-controlled mechanisms are substantially Valike in construction and operation with the exception that the -'one is right' and the other 70 left, a detailed description of one will suflice for a full understanding of the structure 'and modus operandi.

A'base plate 1 forms the bottom of an outer casing 2 and has secured thereon a floor 75 3 to support the articles 4 to be vended which are piled in a magazine having a glazed front 5. Walls 6 project upwardly from the sides of the fioor 3 and are formed with grooves 7 in their inner sides to receive 80 and guide the deliverer. Coin tubes 8 are located at the rear of the floor 3 and are provided at their lower ends with lateral lugs 9 which abut the rear edge of the floor 3 and through which fastening devices are inserted to secure them firmly to the floor. The coin tubes are located immediately adjacent slots 10 in the base plate 1 and the rear edges of the tubes are formed with openings 11 whereby the coins released from the tubes 9 will pass into the coin box 12 placed below the baseplate and within the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 7 the outlets 11 are of such vertical extent that if a second coin be inserted before the rst inserted is discharged, the second coin will roll at once to the box 12 so that the attempt to improperly operate the machine will be frustrated. Across the outer side of each coin tube is an open-ended slot 13 and the inner wall of the tube is 10 over which it is adapted to'slide, the interior.

of the it'ranie coinciding approximately in form and dimensions with the articles to be dispensed, the lowermost article of the pile contained in the compartment or magazine being received within the deliverer and moved outward over the floor 3 as the deliverer is drawn forward. As the deliverer reaches the limit of its outward movement, the article. contained therein clears the floor and d1s' charges, the forward end portion of the floor being beveled downwardly, as shown at 16, and the base, plate 1 being formed into a pocket or trough 17 immediately adjacent the bevel 16. An e`ector plate 18 is fixed within the housing in t e path of the article so that, as the deliverer is drawn forward, the article will be caused to impinge against the arcuate edge of the ejector and be thereby deflected downwardly and positively discharged from the deliverer. To acommodate the ejector, a vertically extending notch'19 is formed in the front end ofthe deliverer. A handle20 projects centrally from the front end of the deliverer and is turned upwardly to `project through a longitudinal vslot 21 in the front projecting portion of the housing This form of handle has been found in resist eHorts to shake the deliverer in attempts to illegitimately obtain a second article. The deliverer 15 is formed with side rear extensions 22 which occupy a position over the floor 3 when the deliverer is drawn outward to the limit of its movement. A contractile spring 23 connects the deliverer with the rear portion of the housing 2, or other structure in which the mechanism may be fitted, and serves to automatically return the deliverer to normal position when released after being drawn outwardly to effect vendition, the rearward movement being limited by engagement of the front end wall of the deliverery against the front end of the magazine.'

A ratchet mechanism is associated with the between its ends upon the side of a post orbracket 27 which is secured upon the rear end of one wall 6, and the spring 26l is disposed between andv attached to the upper otally mounted on a stud 31,

end of the pawl and the. upper end of thev post. When the deliverer 15 has been partially drawn outwardly, the pawl 25 assumes the positionindicated by full lines in Fig. 6, that is, its lower portion inclinesforwardly and'coacts with the teeth ofthe rack bar 24 to prevent a return movement of the deliverer until it has completed its forward movement,

at which time the pawl assumes a normal position. When the deliverer 15 reaches the limit of'its outward movement, the pawl 25 ,clears the rack bar24 and when the deliverer then is moved inward the pawl is reversed and assumes the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Hence, outward movement of the deliverer is prevented until it has moved and be reversed by contact with the end of' the latter. Correct positioning of the unit is assured by formingslits in the walls 6 in which the lower end of the rear wall of thel magazine may be engaged.

In the side of each extension 22 is a longitudinal slot 29l through which may project one arm of a latch 30, said latch being piv Y' depending from the top'of the extension, and having its inner arm normally projecting through the slot 13 in the adjacent coin tube and into the grooved oiijset14so as t0 block the path of thedeposited com, as mdicated .at 32 in Fig. 7 A spring 33 yieldably holds the latch in the described position, and in this position the end of the outer arm ofthe latch may abut the rear end of the wall 6 so that the forward movement ofthe deliverer will be prevented until the latch has been released by the deposit of the proper coin, as will be understood on reference to Fig. The outward movement of v the latch is limited by a stop lug 34 on the wall 6.

In the event of it being necessary to deposit two coins of different denominate value to effect dispensing ofr thearticles to be vended, one of the coins, as a 5-cent piece, isdeposited in one coin tube and the other coin, as

a 10-cent piece, is deposited in the other coin tube and these coins jointly act totrip both y latches so that the deliverer may be drawn outwardly and the article desired obtained.

However, a single coin may be employed by removing one of the latches, said coin being deposited in the coin tube associated with the retained latch which is tripped by the coin to release the deliverer when the latter is drawn ouwardly to discharge the article to be dispensed.V

The normal position is shown in Fig. 2 from an inspection of which it is evident that forward movement of the follower, if no coin is deposited, will be arrested by the latches impinging against the rear ends of the walls 6. When t-he proper coins have been inserted, forward movement of the deliverer will cause the inner ends of the latches to impinge against the coins and, as the coins are held by the tubes against yielding, the latches will be rocked to the positions shown in Fig. 3 and will clear the walls. As soon as the dogs or latches are clear of the coins, they will rock under the iniuence of the-springs 33 so that their out-er forward ends willride along the walls 6 and their opposite inner ends will be alined with the slots 13. Then, on the return movement of the deliverer, the inner ends of the latches will enterthe slots 13 and will engage the coin, if for any reason it has remained in the coin tube, and will positively eject the same.

35 designates a stop rib across the front end of the floor. When a delivery is made', a second package, of course, follows the one delivered and should come to rest on the floor. If, however, the second package should tilt and tend to slide down the inclined end of the oor, the rib will arrest its progress and it will be retained until engaged and moved forward by the deliverer in the usual manner.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A coin-controlled unit for vending mauchines, the same comprising a guiding element, an article deliverer slidable along and guided by said element, a latch pivotally mounted upon and extending horizontally across the deliverer in position to impinge against the rear end of the guiding element and prevent forward movement lof the deliverer, and means whereby the latch may be rocked by a deposited coin to clear the guiding element and permit forward movement of the deliverer.

2. Coin-controlled mechanism including a coin-tube having an open-ended slot across one side, an article deliverer slidable past the coin-tube, a coin-tripped latch mounted on the deliverer with one end normally extending through the slot in the coin-tube to be engaged by the edge of a deposited coin and ride on the side of the coinv during forward movement of the deliverer, and a stop element cooperating with the opposite end of the latch.

3. Coincontrolled mechanism including a. coin-tube, a deliverer movable past the cointube, a latch pivoted on the deliverer and having one end normally projecting-into the tube tobe released by a coi therein upon movement of vthe deliverer to delivery position and.

to impinge against and eject the coin upon return movement of the deliverer, a stop to coact with the latch, and yieldable means for holding'the latch in engagement with the a5 stop.

4. Coin-controlled mechanism includin a coin-tube, a deliverer movable past the tu e, means tripped by a coin in the tube to normally prevent forward movement of the deliverer, a latch pivoted on the deliverer at one side 'of the coin tube and having an inner arm extending across the coin tube at the rear thereof and an outer arm extending forwardly and normally engaging a fixed stop to prevent forward movement of the deliverer, the inner arm being adapted to engage a coin in the tube to be swung rearwardly and release the outer arm and permit forward movement of the deliverer, and a spring attached to the deliverer 'and the outer arm of the latch to return the latch to normal position upon rearward movement of the deliverer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN L. FRY. 

